Another year, another race. But, boy was this a fun race!
Short version:
- Pre-race –
- Perfect 8 day running taper going in to the race.
- Good sleep followed by a cup of tea and a banana 40 minutes prior to the race.
- Race day –
- Weather – Cool(65 degrees), overcast morning and smaller than usual number of runners – even though I was in the middle of the pack, I crossed the start line in about 10 seconds after the gun went off!!.
- In-race hydration: Water at mile 6 (as practiced), Gatorade at mile 10, water again at mile 12.
- Good, consistent pace of averaging 8:30 min/mile with 170 steps/min during first 8-9 miles, slowed to 8:49 min/mile for next 3 miles. Finished strong… and, guess what – a PR of 1:57!! This was my first sub-2 hour half-marathon and it felt huge!
- Post-race –
- Recovery was ultra smooth. I must have sat for barely hour-and-half after coming back – no nap. But I was perfectly alright – so much so that, I could prepare for (house-cleaning etc.), participate in and clean up after a large dinner party at home that finished at 12 am next day – all in all I was up for 21 hours straight – first 2 of which I ran my fastest half-marathon!!